New Colorado Law Requires ‘Universal THC Symbol’ on All Packaging

The way marijuana products are packaged and labeled in Colorado has continually raised concerns for state government officials. So, starting in 2019, all marijuana packaging in the state will have to show the “universal THC symbol.”

Prior packaging rules required that only recreational marijuana products bear the universal THC symbol, according to Westword. But the new law requires medical products also show the same THC symbol (the word THC inside a red or black diamond).

The new labeling requirements were selected following tedious stakeholder conversations in 2017. Both the Colorado Department of Revenue and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment made the final decision.

CDPHE Deputy Executive Director Karin McGowan said, “Whether it’s used on retail or medical marijuana products, the universal symbol helps both consumers and non-consumers easily identify that a product contains THC and avoid unintentional ingestion. We’re confident that the integration of a single symbol will help streamline our public health message, which focuses on the importance of educating yourself, young people and out-of-town guests about what the symbol means.”

The symbols on retail products won’t become mandatory until January 1, 2019, and medical marijuana products will have until July 1, 2019 to make the required changes.

According to CDOR executive director Mike Hartman, creating the standardized diamond symbol was a vital move for universally recognizing marijuana products. He said, “The adoption of a single universal symbol is part of our ongoing effort to protect public health and safety by enhancing consumers’ ability to identify products containing marijuana and reducing confusion stemming from two distinct symbols. One truly universal symbol also works to simplify and improve industry compliance with regard to packaging and labeling.”